Golfdom, March 2015

The Sean Sullivan CGCS The Briarwood CC Billings Mont Sean what can I get you Ill have a Diet Coke So you drove from Billings to San Antonio for the GIS this year Ive only flown once in the last 14 years to the GIS that was to Anaheim Generally Ill drive no matter what the distance It gives me time to think about problems on the course without all the distractions of the course problems if that makes any sense I think it does Whats been your longest GIS road trip I did a 6700 mile one from Billings to GIS in San Diego then to Atlanta to pick up a car with and some mowers then back to Billings It was 17 states and two weeks including the show What are you most excited about for this summer Ive been selected to work on the Open Support Team at St Andrews this year I go for a couple extra days to visit courses I like to see how other people problem solve Any maintenance practices you guys do that are unique I dont have traditional white or river sand for After my firSt trip to the UK in 2008 i Got Sold on the ideA of USinG SeAweed extrACt on the GreenS dUrinG the SprinG And SUmmer SinCe thAt time the GreenS hAve performed very well dUrinG the heAt of the SUmmer my bunkers I have jet black coal slag Its a by product of burning lignite coal in a special burner for power in North Dakota The by product is inert very hard a durable gloss black particle You can get it screened to the size of fairway fertilizer or greens grade fertilizer It never loses its black color and it drains very well Because of the heat it generates in the summer it doesnt generate weed problems like your traditional bunker material What do golfers think about it I have had it in place since 2007 The midto high handicappers love it because its easier to get out and the particle is so dense you never get a fried egg lie But the low handicappers that actually practice bunker shots they struggle because theyre using the wrong bounce off their clubs You make customized ball washers how did you get into that hobby Ive owned a powder coating gun for 20 years now Its a cheap 100 hobby gun I used to do cups and stuff I got tired of doing the plain green ball washers every other year And its an alternative to using aerosols All you need is the initial investment of 100 for the gun and an ordinary kitchen oven For golf courses that cant afford new stuff they can do it themselves for next to nothing Even the most elaborate patterns I can do for between 12 and 18 a lot cheaper than sending them out As interviewed by Seth Jones March 2nd 2015 44 Golfdom March 2015 Golfdom com

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